COOKEVILLE – Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) has announced new COVID protocols effective Aug. 9, 2021.
Masks are still required to be worn by staff and visitors while in the facility.
Visitation
- One designated visitor per in-patient/observation per day.
- Visitors cannot swap out during visitation hours.
- Visitation hours will be daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- No overnight stays will be permitted. (Those patients with special needs will be allowed one overnight support visitor if approved by the attending physician.)
- One parent/guardian per pediatric patient. (Overnight stays are allowed.)
- One designated support person in the birthing center. (Overnight stays are allowed.)
- One support person allowed for surgery and procedure patients, including same-day patients. (That person must wait in a room until the patient is done with surgery or in their car to wait for a phone call.)
- One visitor in the emergency department.
- One visitor for outpatient testing or appointments at the OIC.
- One visitor for appointments at the Cancer Center.
- One designated visitor per patient in the Inpatient rehab center. (For patients currently in semi-private rooms, visitors would have to meet the patients in the dining area and remain masked for the visit.)
- No visitors allowed for COVID positive or suspect cases unless it is end-of-life approved by the attending physician.
- No visitors for outpatient testing or appointments.
- No visitors under the age of 16.
- End of Life – Attending physician will determine number of visitors for end-of-life situations, along with overnight visitors, as long as it does not exceed four (4) family members at a time.
- Cafeteria remains open to visitors.
Surgery/Procedure areas
COVID surge plan to increase bed capacity or cover for staff shortages for inpatients is as follows:
Once ICU volume of COVID patients reaches 15 and/or medical/stepdown volume reaches 22, and the other units are at or near capacity, senior management will discuss the possibility of limiting inpatient surgeries. The CEO will make the decision, if and when, to limit inpatient procedures to urgent or emergent only. This will continue until COVID volumes fall below the above thresholds and at least one week of data showing COVID volumes are trending down or as determined by the CEO.
If staffing becomes critical as deemed by the CNO, elective inpatient and outpatient cases may be limited or stopped in order to provide staff to care for inpatients. This will be discussed by senior management and the decision made by the CEO. This would include OR, CVOR, GI lab, Cardiac Cath lab, Vascular lab, Cardiac Rehab and Imaging. Other outpatient areas may also limit, or stop services as deemed necessary to provide safe care to patients and the community.
General information
- Vaccination is highly effective against known variants and preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
- Since March 10, 97% of new COVID positive admissions at CRMC have NOT been vaccinated.
- You are urged to get vaccinated even if you have had COVID previously.
- Vaccines are available for employees and family members 12 years and older every Thursday from Noon-4 pm in the North Patient Tower Lobby, free of charge, no appointment needed.
